Rotary boring mechanism.



'No. 883,368. PATENTEi) MAR. 31, 1908.

J. A. mass, JR. 7

ROTARY BORING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24.1906.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ammm a? w /M 19i b1 eases No. 883,368. PATENTED MAR. 31, 1908.

-' J A. WIGGSyJIL ROTARY BORING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION I'ILEI) JULY 24.1906.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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V WWMM 4 K J PATEN'IED MAR. 31, 1908. 11.

J. A. w

ROTARY BORI EGHANISM.

ULY 24 1 0 No'. 883,368. PATENTED MAR. 31, 1908. J. A. WIGGS, JR.

ROTARY BORING MECHANISM.

LPPLIOATIOK FILED JULY 24.1906.

8 8EEETS-SHEET 6.

No. 883,368. PATENTED MAR. 81, 1908.

J. A. WIGGS, JR. ROTARY BORING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24.1906.

68 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

PATENTED MAR. 31, 1908. J. A. WIGGS, JR. ROTARY BORING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24.1908.

8 SHEETS SHEET '1- :EEE: .22:? \w\ E wmv mmntz 3 9/91 in eases I aka-nu:

No. 883,368. PATENTED MAR. 31, 1908. Y J. A. wmes, JR. v

ROTARY BORING MECHANISM.

-APPLIOATIOK FILED JULY 9.4. 1906. v 8 SHBETS SHBET D/vi in mam I T0011 whom it may concern:

PATENT orrrcn.

JAMES A. WIGGS, JR, BEAUMONT, TEXAS ROTARY BORING MECHANISM.

No. ss3,3es.

Be it known that I, JAMES A. WIGGS, 'Jn, citizen of theUnited States, residing at, Beaumont, in the county of Jefferson and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Boring Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the fol-' lowing to be a full, clear, and exact. descripr e tion of the invention, such as will enab others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates'to rotary drilling mechanism for boring wells and similar urposes and more especially to that kin -or class of such mechanism wherein tar rotary table or ring is employed, 'carryin gri ping devices andprovided with means or c osing the same on a tube, stem or rod, whereby .the

latter is compelled to turnwith said gripping devices and table, though permitting endwise motion as fed downward through the same in borin .Insuch mechanism, the table has usua 1y been provided with a circular gear or series of cog-teeth engaged by a rotary driving pinion. 1

The chief ob ects of the present invention are to ermit the removal of the said pinion at nee without disturbing the rotary table or other parts of the machine; to provide for the automatic discharge of mud, sand and other fine foreign matter from the raceway;

to supply improved means for closing and openlng the gri ping devices; to afiord a s ace below the riving pinion forfacilitating t e removal of the same; to furnish suitable means for holding and guiding the rotary table; to rovide improved means for securely holr ing in osition the gripping cones and the arts which 0 e ate and su port them, whl e allowing a s igh the said gripping and actuating devices and permitting their detachment at will to properlyv guide and brace the said grip ing devices while permitting such; 'vertica' moveping devices and their actuating shafts roih their supports while-locking the grip-roller shafts and the nuts or the screw-threaded shafts against rotation; and generally to im'-- rove the various details of the machine and its efficiency as a whole.

To these ends the said invention conslsts 1n the construction and combination of parts hereinafter more particularly set forth and clalmed. In the. accompanying drawings, Flgure 1 Specification 0t Letters Patent. Application enem 24,

t vertical pay of;

Patented March a1, 190a.

1900. Serial my 327,483.

representsa plan view of 'a machine embodying my invention, partly broken away; 2 represents a longitudinal section of the same on the line 2 -2 of Fig. 1, partly in side elevation slightly broken awa Fig. 3 re resents an end elevation of t e same, ta en from the right hand of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 represents a horizontal section taken through the table on a line just below the cog teeth 2, giving a. plan view of the lower devices. 'Fig. 4} represents a detail-vertical central section. from front to rear of one of the clamping frames or tableholding devices. Fig. 4 represents a front elevation. of the same. .Fig. .5 represents a transverse vertical sectionon theline 55 of 1 Fi 5" represents a detail bottom view of one 0% the ocket, boltheads and oximateparts for detachably holding the s aft bearings. Fig. 6v re resents a detail plan view of oneof the fixe lates or frames 6; Fig. 7 represents' a inner side; Fi 8 represents. an en elevation of the same ig. 9 represents a detail perspective view of. one of the shafts 15; Fig. 10 represents a similarview of one of the hearing plates 14, for locking the same and also locking the square adjusting nut hereinafter described; Fig. It represents, on a smaller scale than most of the otherdetail figures, a perspective view ofone of the beari frames 13 hereinafter described, showing 0 y one of the bearing caps 14 in place; F1g. 12 reprelarger scale; F g. 13 represents a detail end elevation of the same; Fig. 14 represents a detail'si'de elevation of the same' from the view of one of the sliding plates or frames 1; 1Fig.g16 represents an end elevation of. the same; Fig.1? represents a sideelevation of the'same from the outer side; 18 re sents a detail perspective view of the middle part of one o the shafts M and proximate devices; 19 represents adetail 'view of one of the square nuts and proximate parts.

the base plate 1, somewhat more than half as long as said frame, being fastened thereto by long bolts a. Bearing caps B B, the formerbeing theouter bearing cap, and the latter, the inner one, are fastened respectively on the bed frame A at the end awa from the rotary table and on the correspon' ing end of the base late. Under the inner bearing cap B is a lock 19, rigid with the side e ovation. of the same, lookin from the sents a detail plan view of thesame on a outer side; Fig. '15 represents a detail plan,

A designates the bed-frame of the machine, j

said base plate: These bearing caps hold the rotary driving shaft 24 with interposed antifriction bushings b and are alsoprovided on top with oil cups d held in lace by bolts 0 and lubricating the said shaft through ducts e., The said shaft receives motion from any suitable source of power through a sprocket wheel 23 or its equivalent, which is sleeved on said shaft and clutched at will by a clutch collar 21 splined thereon. A lever 22, pivoted at itsbifurcated lower end to lugs D raised from a metal strap D bolted to the bed frame, operates said clutch collar in the usual way. A spacin sleeve 20 is inter osed between said. clutc collar and said b ock 19.

The driving pinion 27 is mounted on the inner end of said driving shaft and turns therewith. Being subject to continual wear while in use, it must from time to time be removed for repair, cleanin or replacement; Of course there is great a vantage in effecting such removal without disturbing the remainder of the machine. For this purpose I provide the bl'ock'19 with lateral slots 18*, extending outward from bolts 18', which fasten the bearing cap B in' place. These slots-are wide enough at all oints of their lower parts to let the heads 0 the said bolts ass outward beyond the said blocks, thus reein the bearing cap B but the outer portion 0 the upper part of each of said slots is too narrow to permit such outward assage of the head, but forms an inner an upper pocket 18, the metal inclosing which isin one piece with the baselate 1. The said ocket 1S square fittin t e'head of the ho t and I preventing the oosening of the nut as well as wear resultingfrom its turning. Since the two bolts 18 are thus held immovable while tightened, the bearing cap B is securely held also. For removal, it is necessar only to loosen the nuts of the bolts, therefiy letting their heads down below the ockets 18, then slip them out laterally and t off the bearing cap B.. The screws or bolts 0 which pass through slots P of bearing cap B to fasten the same are then removed, allowingsaid cap to be taken off, when the said drivin shaft may easily be lifted off, partly or whofi and the drivm pinion removed or replaced without distur in g any other element of the mechanism. o facilitate the removal of the said driving (pinion a deep recess 27 a is formed in plate 1 irectly under it. This will allow the said pinion to tilt in removal and make it more accessible. These improvements effectually obviate the need of dismantling the machine to repair said pinion, a procedure hitherto generally found necessary. The said pinion meshes, as is usual in such machines, with a gear wheel or series, of cog teeth 2 on the under side of a rotar table 2 turning on anti-friction outwardly-flaring conoid'al rollers 4, in a race-way 4. To vent the wear of the said table and of the pre race-way bottom which is integral with base plate 1, I insert two lining rings 3 "of hard metal, coverin each of these surfaces above and below said rollers. These rings fit the said rollers and consequently the upper faces of said rings incline downwardly and out- Wardly, as do those. of the corresponding faces of parts 1 and 2 lined by them. Norshown in Fig. 2, at the outer edge of the raceway between annular walls 4 and 4? of said parts 1 and 2, which walls constitute the ront of the raceway and prevent said rollers from slipping out. The disa pearance, or

approximate disappearance, of this interval mally a plainly visible interval 4 is left, as i sage or passages 28, extendin from'the outer edge of the downwardly inc ined bottom of the raceway throu h the outer wall 4 thereof to the exterior. ny foreign matter in said raceway will be worked out through such outlet by the combined action of the rollers, the rotating table and gravity. Preferably there-are a number of these passages 28.

The table 2 has the ordinary annular form surrounding a central opening A, intended to receive as usual a vertical boring rod or well tube (not shown) turnin wlth said table. Said tube or rod is held etween two pairs of gripping rollers 16, which are loose ontheir horizontal shafts 15,, the latter being held against turning, as hereinafter described. These rollers may have Washers 17 on the shaft behind them and their construction and form may be varied in accordance with convenience. No novelty is claimed in them alone. They are substantially shown in the patent of M. T.,Chapman #382,689'and in divers later well known patents granted to him and to others. Each shaft.15 is provided on the top of each end with a flattened face 25, on which a cap 14 fits to lock it against rotation in the 0 en top bearings 13 of its grip-frame 13. 1e shaft 15 is set in the bearings-13 with the flattened, faces 9 uppermost, as they are in'Fi 9 and the flat caps 14, Figs. 10 and 11 are bolted down, as, shown at the up er or right end of Fig. 11, it

is evident that t e shaft cannot turn in said and mounting the rollers 16 loosely thereon,

as already stated, the said rollers do the turning and the wear of the shafts in the said gripping rolls and proximate parts have sometimes beenqmade vertically movable with the drilling tube to a limited extent.

For permitting this I employ special im' proved devices shortly hereinafter set forth. The two gri frames 13 are arranged on each side of t e drilling tube, not shown,

each end of each grip-frame bein provided horizontally and transversely wit bearings 13 for one end of one of a pair of right and left screws or screw-threaded shafts M, also with a square recess 13 open on top and receiving a square nut 13 that en ages said shaft. These two. screws or sha ts M, by

their rotation one way or the other, ti hten provided with a Y tween the bifurcations of the lower end of the said gripping-rolls on the said tu e or free them therefrom, at will. The said screw threaded .shafts M have generally been ro-' tated by a wrench or other tool fitting some prismatic part of the same; but I use instead a lever 10 straddling a ratchet wheel 11 on a smooth middle part m of said shaft M and awl 12 for engaging the same, said pawl eing ,pivotally hung bethe said lever and the said bifurcations having bearings on the said middle part m.

These screw-threaded shafts and the nuts 40 engaged thereby havelong been the usual means, mechanism or devices for adjusting or moving the gripping rollers and their shafts toward or from the boring tube or'rod.

Grip-frames sometimes called? jaws, or by other names, are the usual means for sup-.

porting the shafts that carry the grip rollers or other gripping devices; and in the present instance they may also be considered part of the means, mechanism or adjustin devicesfor moving the slide frames towar or from each other, since they carry the nuts which engage the said screw-threaded shafts; also, the said grip frames with the roller carrying shafts constitute the su portin devicesor supports for the grip-r0 lers, w ich are the immediate gripping devices. The mechanism, including gearing for turning the rotary table d is fully described in this specification, and the table of course carries around with it the slide frames, the grip frames, the four shafts and the nuts and gripping rollers.

Each grip frame 13 is provided in the.

" ment toward or sliding on the topof said table but held thereto as hereinafter described. Raised wings or stops 7 and 7 rigid, and preferably integral, with plate 7, and located at the inner edge of the same, receive the .grip frame 13 between them and prevent it from turning pivotally on post 7, so thatit is held rigid by said sliding plate-or frame 7, presenting alwa s the gripping rollers in proper position to old the pipe and reventing their binding unevenly thereon. frames or.plates 6 are bolted to the rotating table under the said screw-threaded shafts M. Each plate or frame 6 is provided with a pair of rigid and preferably integral raised:

ugs 6, slotted from the top down to receive one'of the said shafts. Each plate or frame 6 has its inner edge 6 (Figs. 6 and 7)undercut or grooved, so that itwill overlapthe proximate edge 7 of each sliding plate or rames 7. In consequence, the two fixed frames or plates 6, constitute a guideway for the two sliding plates or frames 7 holding them securely to the table, but permitting "their .free re ular and even moverom each other. ,The slotted lugs or bearings 6 of each'guide plate or frame 6 receive the smooth middle partm of the proximate shaft M, and are ocated on each side of. its ratchet wheel and lever. These slotted bearings permit the shafts to rise and fall with the gri frame 13, the shafts 15 and the gripping rol ers 16, but are sufficiently high to prevent any horizontal motion of the grip ing mechanismas a whole in a direction ongitudinal with respect to shafts 15 and lateral with respect to screw-threaded shafts M. Thus, with the restraining action of sliding frame 7 already described, the griplping frames are prevented from moving who y or partly in any hori zontal direction, except-as drawn toward the drilling pipe or rod or moved back therefrom by said screw-threaded'shafts M, the frames 7 a sliding with the said grip frames 13 over. the table top, but bein held to the latter by guide ways 6 formed y the inner'edges of plates 6, Figs. 6 and'7.

f In the periphery'o'f the rotary table 2, I

form an annular groove 26, which receives. the inwardly presented curved rib or flange 5 of each one of four supporting and fastening legs or frames 5, arran ed equidistantl around the said table an bolted throug their bases to the base-plate 1. These legs or frames 5 securely clam the said table to the said base plate, whi e permitting free rotary motion. of the former. They also brace the said table against radial or tan ential strain, and ma aid in itssupport. ach of these fastening ames 5 is provided with a air of slots 5 extending upward and also horizontally outward The parallel horizontal parts of said slots receive screws or bolts 5 extending upward from or through wo guide the base plate 1, and having nuts turnedon their upper ends to ad'ust the position of said fastening frame. etween said slots a bracingrib 5 is formed on said frame.

or cap-plate 14 is right-an lar in form an covers t e open to'ps ofthe ear' ings-13 and 13 for theproximate-ends of shafts =l5land M, alsotheopen-top of square recess 13, which receives squarenut 13 as hereinbeforedescribed. Consequently when the four caps or plates 14 are fastened down ,all the (parts of the tube gripping mechanism are hel in position for service and the shafts 15 and nuts 13 (see'Fig. 1 also, in. detail,

19) arexpre vented from turning but when the said caps are'removed the entire gripping mechanism may be lifted out or any of the shafts and appurtenances may belifted out alone,.without disturbing the remainderof ters Patent is:

the machine.

The construction hereinbefore' described permits me .to conveniently remove my rilling tube without disarranging the table, which action must alwa s involve considerable risk of subsequent 1m erfect alinement andthe boring of an irregu ar or not exactly straight hole.- Of. course this machine is equa 1y adapted-to use with a tube doing'its own drilling or a drill-rod operating .to prepare the way for the-tube.

e used wherever any, tube, rod, stem or other similar article, tool or structure is to be turned axially and fed lengthwise for any purpose whatever. But in well boring its chief utility will be found. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let- I 1. 'Inrotary borin mechanism, two pairs of tube-grippin rol ers, which, are free to turn on their s afts and arran ed 0 osite to each other, in combination witi said s afts, each ofvwhich is flattened atone end, gripframes supporting said shafts, parts clamped against the flattened parts of said shafts to prevent them'from' turning, adjusting de vices for moving: said shafts toward orfrom each otherand a rotary table or support for carrying them in rotation about a common axis substantially as set forth;

2. In rotary borin mechanism, two pairs of. tube-gripping rollers which are free to turn on their s afts and arranged o posite toeach other, in combination wit said shafts ,which are flattened on top at one end of each," a table having an opening in its center, means for supporting said shafts from said table, plates adapted to be fastened in contact. with said flattened arts to prevent such shafts from turning, a justing The said base plate is provided with a pair of frame being received It may also an openin table, having a central openin for the tube or rod to be rotated, in com .ination with two grip frames arranged on op osite sides of the center of said. table an free from tion with a pair of grip-frames on opposite sides of sai table, tubegripping devices carried by said grip-frames, posts on which the said grip-frames are vertically movable,- slide frames having said posts fixed thereon,

adjusting devices for moving said- .gri

ineehanism, a rotary, table having a centra opemng, 1n combina engagement with any other device adapted frames and. slide frames towardorfromt ecenter of the table and means for rotating said table, substantially as set forth. v

5. In rotary borin i mechanism, emer table having a centra o eninjg, in combination with a pair of gri A ames, each having a vertical openin at itsmiddle, tube grippin devices carried by said frames, a pair of s ide frames on opposite sidesof the center of said table, each of said slide frames having I a post ,which passes u through such opening of one of said gripames, permitting the latter to rise independently thereon at need,

screw-shafts'for adjustin saidgri -frames and slide frames towar "each ot er and mechanism for rotating the said table-substantially as set forth.

6. n rotary borin mechanism, a rotary table having a'centra opening, in combination with a pair. of grip frames each having at its middle, a air of slide frames eac having a post whic extends up hrough such openin of one (if the. gri ames, permitting the atterto rise indeggp ently, guides for said. slide frames con 'ng them to horizontal motion toward and from each other, mechanism for adjusting the said grip-frames and slide frames toward' an opening at its mid le, tube gripping de-' aaaaas vices carried by said grip-frames, a pair of slide frames each havmga post whlch extends up through such opening of one of .the said grip-frames, permitting the latter to rise independently, mechanism for adjust-- ing the said grip-frames. and slide frames toward and from each other and mechanism forrotating the said table, each of the said slide-frames bein stantially as set forth.--

8. In rotary boring mechanism, a pair of oppositely arranged slide-frames, each of which is provided with a raised post and raised side walls, in combination with means for adjusting thegrip-frames and saidslideframestoward, and from each-other, a pairof grip-frames carried by said slide frames, tube grip ing devices carried by said grip-frames, a ta le sup orting said slide-frames and'grip frames an gearing for rotating said. SlldG- frames, grip-frames and gripping devices collectively, each ofthe sai ing fitted u contact wit whereby it is held against turning pivot'all on said post, although 'free to rise independ ently substantially as set forth.

grip frames beon one of the sald posts and in 9. In rotary boring mechanism, two grip-.

and the said parts carried thereby, and stops to prevent the said grip-frames from turnlng pivotally on the slide-frames which support them substantially as set forth.

10. In rotary boring mechanism, two sets of tube gripping devices, and shafts carrying the same, in combination with screw thread ed shafts and screw-threaded devices engag' ing therewith for moving said gripping devices and their shafts toward or from each other at the will of the operator, vertically slotted bearings for said shafts, permitting the latter to rise and fall with said gri ping devices, the said shafts bein provide with smooth parts turning in said slots substantially as set forth.

11. In rotary boring mechanism, a pair of gripframes, in combination with osts on which they are sleeved for indepen ent vertical 'movement, parts sup 'orting said posts and movable toward and. rom the center of the table gripping devices and their shafts rarried by said grip-frames, screw-threaded shafts and nuts for'adjusting the first .named shafts toward or from each other, and vertically slottedbearings for said screw-threadcd adjusting shafts, permitting them to rise further provided with. raised walls whic' prevent the said gri frames from turning on the said posts su two of the said raised walls,

dprovided with posts, which permit.

grip-frames to rise thereon indein said bearings with said grip-frames substantially as set forth.

' 12. A' grip-frame for supporting tubegripping devices, in combination with a orizontally sliding frame havin a postthat extends up' through said grip= ame and a pair ofwalls raised on saldfslide frame in proximity to the sides of said grip-frame to prevent the latter from turning on said post- 13, In rotary drilling mechanism, a pair of gri -fr'ames and tube-gripping devices carrie thereby, in combination with devices which engage said frames to-prevent their turning, but permit their, independent vertical motion, adjusting shafts ,and nuts engaging said frames for adjusting them toward or from each other at the will of the o erator and parts supporting said adjusting s afts and preventing their lateral movement, while leaving such adjusting shafts freeto rise with the said grip-frames sub- 7 stantially as set forth.

14. In rotary boring mechanism, a pair of grip frames and tube-gripping devices carried thereby, combination with devices which support said frames, but perm-it them to rise independently, screw' threaded shafts for adjusting said frames toward or from each other at the will of the operator, removable nuts receiving the ends of said screw-shafts ted parts. supporting said shafts substantially as set forth.

15. In rotary boring mechanism, a pair of vertically movable grip-frames, which are also movable toward or from each other, in combination with gripping devices carried thereby, slide frames provided with raised walls in proximity tothe said grip frames preventing them from turning ivotally, an

.and held by said grip-frames, removable caps fastened over said nuts, and vertically slot--.

with posts which pass centra y up through the said grip frames, permitting them to rise but preventing their endwise horizontal move-' ment, rotary screw-threaded shafts, engaging appurtenances of said grip frames to draw the latter together or move them apart at the will of the operator, and relatively fixed vertically slotted parts which afford bearin' for said screwthreaded shafts and permit them to rise therein withthe said ip-frames, butprevent the horizontal inwarf or outward movement of said screw-threaded shafts substantially as set forth.

16. A pair of grip-frames provided with.

tubeipping devices, in combination with slideame's on which theyare mounted and adjusting devices for moving the said gripframes and slide-frames toward or from each other} each slide-frame b'eing rovided with raised parts which -prevent t e grip-frame that it carries from moving independently except in a vertically upward direction, said raised parts including walls which fit a ainst said grip-frame substantially as set fort 17. In rotary boring' mechanism, a pair of grip-frames arranged opposite each other and provided with tube-gri ping devices, in comination with a pair of right and left screwthreaded shafts and screw-threaded parts for drawing said grip-frames toward each other or moving them a art at the will of the operator, ratchet whee s fast on the said shafts,

levers mounted on the said shafts, pawls carried by said levers for enga ing said ratchet wheels, and relatively fixed frames having raised slotted lugs which afford bearings for said shafts and prevent their lateral movement, both said grip frames and said shafts bein free to rise vertically, substantially as and or the purpose set forth.

18. In rotary boring mechanism, a table having a central openin and means for rotatin said table, in com ination with a pair of sli e-frames on opposite sides of the center of said table, a pair of rip-frames mounted on said slide-frames and movable with them toward or from said center, tube-grippin devices carried by said grip-frames, a pair 0 rotary right and left screw-threaded shafts, screw-threaded parts engaging said shafts and carried by said grip-frames, means for rotatsaid shafts and guide frames fixed on said le and overla ping the edges of said slideframes, said gui e-franies bein also provided with raised bearin s and saic slide frames permitting the in ependentvertical movement of the parts supported thereby,-but being provider with stops for preventing their lateral movement substantially as set forth.

19. Prismatic nuts and adjusting screwthreaded shafts engagin the same in combination with grip-frames liaving prismatic recesses receiving said nuts, removable capsclosing said recesses to lock said nuts against 'two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES A; -WIGGS, JR.

Witnesses:

F. A. SEEGER, B. G. NEVILLE. 

